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"I've trained as hard as I always train. I've prepared for a long, hard fight, and at this level if you take opponents lightly, you are taking huge risks."

Calzaghe also confirmed that he aims to fight for no more than another 24 months, but has a burning desire to confirm his status as the finest fighter of his generation. "I want to fight until I cannot fight any more but it is a rare breed of fighter who actually gets out at the right time. My aim is to leave boxing on top."

Meanwhile, as the fighters were face-to-face at a press conference in Manchester, Frank Warren, Calzaghe's promoter, insisted that his man can go on and establish himself as an all-time boxing great in the division.

"Joe is a consummate professional and takes every challenge he has ever faced. I'm convinced he is capable of ending his career as one of boxing's greats," Warren said.